2004 OutlookI-back David Horne is expected to play a large role in the Nebraska offense this fall and hopes to return to the form he flashed as a freshman in 2002. Horne's playing time decreased last fall, but after a strong spring practice session, he enters fall camp in position to earn significant playing time in the Husker backfield this fall.

Horne has continued to add strength and size during his Husker career, to go along with good speed and field vision. This spring, he exhibited good ability as a receiver out of the backfield in Nebraska's West Coast Offense. Horne could also figure into Nebraska's kickoff return plans this fall.

Horne enters the 2004 campaign with 1,092 rushing yards in two seasons to rank 45th on the Husker career list. He rushed for 441 yards and four touchdowns on 107 carries as a sophomore. Horne had his best outing of the year at Missouri when he rushed for a season-high 119 yards.

The Omaha Central graduate did not play in the first five games of 2002, but ended a possible redshirt season in early October. He quickly moved to second on the depth chart and rushed for 651 yards and seven touchdowns in extensive playing time the remainder of the year. He topped 100 yards three times off the Husker bench, and his rushing total was the fourth best ever by a Husker freshman.

Horne's play earned him fourth-team freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News. The publication also picked him first-team frosh All-Big 12, while the conference coaches listed him on their honorable-mention all-league squad.

Horne came to Nebraska from Omaha Central, known for producing great running backs. Former Husker and current Green Bay Packer All-Pro Ahman Green headlines a group of former NU running backs from Central that includes Calvin Jones and Keith Jones. NFL Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, who played his college ball at Kansas, also prepped at Central.

2003 (Sophomore)Horne played in 12 games and finished with 441 yards rushing on 107 carries with four touchdowns. Horne was the second back into the game behind senior Josh Davis for the first 10 games of the year. However, Cory Ross took over the starting job for the final three games, and Horne's playing time was limited. Horne topped 50 yards in each of Nebraska's first three games, while averaging 13 carries per game. He carried just six times for 31 yards at Southern Miss, but scored his second touchdown of the season (three yards) and had a season-long 20-yard run.

Horne was Nebraska's featured back at Missouri, rushing a career-high 26 times for a season-high 119 yards, including a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He carried 14 times for 86 yards a week later against Texas A&M, and scored his fourth touchdown of the season in the first quarter (one yard). He became the 53rd Husker to reach 1,000 career rushing yards against the Aggies.

2002 (Freshman)One of five true freshmen to see action in 2002, Horne did not play in the first five games, but split time at I-back with senior Dahrran Diedrick the rest of the year. Horne finished his rookie year with 651 yards rushing, the fourth-best total ever by a Husker freshman. His performance earned him fourth-team freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News.

He came out of a redshirt before the McNeese State game and responded with 12 carries for 81 yards in his debut. A week later, Horne played a key role with 20 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 24-13 win over Missouri. In that game he tied his season-long with a 30-yard run and was NU’s nominee for Big 12 Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors for the first of three times in 2002.

Horne recorded his first career 100-yard game a week later at Oklahoma State, with 125 yards on 24 carries and a two-yard touchdown. He became the first Nebraska true freshman I-back to rush for more than 100 yards since 1996. He was the first Husker frosh at any position to top 100 yards rushing since redshirt freshman quarterback Eric Crouch had 108 yards at Kansas State in 1998.

A week later at Texas A&M, Horne had a career-high 128 yards on 24 carries. He scored four touchdowns in the game, including three in the second half, as NU rallied from a 17-point deficit for a 38-31 win. His four scores were the most ever against Texas A&M and the most by a Husker frosh since Calvin Jones rushed for a school-record six touchdowns at Kansas in 1991. Horne produced his third 100-yard game with 122 yards on nine carries against Kansas. He averaged 13.3 yards per tote against the Jayhawks and had a pair of 30-yard runs to match his season long. He capped his freshman year with 65 yards in the Independence Bowl.

Before Nebraska (Central HS)One of seven Nebraskans in the 2002 recruiting class, Horne rushed for a Class A-best 1,467 yards on 183 carries and had 22 touchdowns in 2001. Also a gifted receiver, Horne totaled 298 yards and a touchdown. A two-time first-team All-Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald) and super-state (Lincoln Journal Star) running back, Horne also played defense, with 25 tackles and three interceptions at free safety in 2001.

Horne started two years at running back for Head Coach Joe McMenamin at Central. A member of the Omaha World-Herald’s Super Six, Horne was named an All-American by SuperPrep, PrepStar and Rivals.com. With great speed, Horne also excelled in track for the Eagles. He was part of a 4x400-meter relay team that set a state mark in 2000 (3:19.0, fourth-fastest time in state high school history). As a senior, he was a part of the Class A state champion 4x100-meter relay team, while finishing fifth in the 100 meters. Horne visited Colorado, Michigan and Nebraska and was also recruited by Notre Dame, Iowa and Iowa State.

PersonalThe son of Damond and Pam Horne, David was born in Omaha on July 25, 1984. Horne is a sociology major.